Apparatus for distilling.



PATENTBD-PEB. 26, 1907.

J. F. WITTEMANN.

APPARATUS FORDISTILLING.

APPLIOATION FILED r1112. 14, 1395. RENEWED JAN. 25.1907.

ywwntoz Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB F. WITTEMANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WITTE- MANN BROTHERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A FIRM.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB F. WITTEMANN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Distilling; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use .the same.

This invention relates to apparatus for distilling, particularly for distilling water for mineralwaters, high-grade ginger-ales, and

1 other beverages.

The primaiy object of my invention is to provide means whereby the water may be nrst purified, then evaporated, then recondensed, then recooled and sterilized in, one

continuous'operation, furnishing at the same time boiling water which may be used for feeding a steam-boiler and for other purposes, thereby materially reducing the cost of production, Other objects are to render 2 5 the water not only free from all organic and mineral matter or gases which are contained in more or less undesirable proportions in all spring, well, or river waters, but also .to pre-' vent the absorption of metallic matters from 0 the necessary condcnsing-surfaoes,, to free the water from all organic matter and from the gases arising therefrom, which are undesirable, often dangerous, and liable to produce precipitation in the Water or beverages pre:

5 pared from the same;

Further objects of the invention are to produce pure water ready for immediate usenamely, substantially as cool as the original wator-without additional cost for cooling 4o mediums, to prevent the distilled water from reabsorbing the surrounding air, which is proved to be the vehicle of most disease germs, and particularly the air of workshops, to obtain an absolutely soft watera condition as 4 5 valuable as absolute purityand toprovide moans by which the heat contained in the' vaporized water may be reabsorbed and used over again, so as to economize in the fuel needed for distilling and other purposes.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the improved apparatus, substantiall as hereinafter described and then define in the claims at the end of the description.

broken away, and Fig.2 is a detail plan view of the connection between the feed-water pipe and the boiling-pan.

in the form of apparatus shown the letter A designates a boiling-pan having an opening a at the top thereof for the escape of gases and of sufficient area to allow a partial evaporation of the heated body of water contained therein, so as to throw oil all or anic and other gases either'contained in sai water or created by the destruction of solid 01'- ganic or. mineral matter contained in the same, said opening in the pan being also to permit the waterto be oxidized during the boiling process by the ebullition or bubbling up and separation of the particles of water, so as to contact withthe air, in order to prevent the remaining purified water frombeing This flat when vaporized and condensed. pan may be supported above the still 3 by the legs b or otherwise and is provided interiorly with one or more steamcoils b for heating the water therein and may-have a thermometer b? communicating with said Water, so that the temperature may be readily ascertained.

The still B is supported in any approved manner, and maycom'prise a vaporizing-retort C, having va series of referably flat coils of pipe 0 located ithin t e same and arranged above and connected to each other for the purpose of vaporizing the water which surrounds said coils the said retort having preferably a dome c of conical formation, which may be provided with a bulls-eye or other suitable opening 0 for ascertaining the height of the Water in the retort and With a condensing-pipe D, secured to the dome c and extending downwardly and coiling around said retort in the form of a sprial. This con densing-pipemay taper, as indicated, and be com o'sed of convenient lengths 0t pipe of graually-reduced sizes properly fitted or butted into each other, as at d, and provided with a coil or pipe E, which surrounds said condensing-pipe D for condensing the vapor be employed, if preferred, the whole thus forming a condenser E.

The condensing coil or pipe D may be properly centered withinthe coil E by suitable means and is preferably made of 'pure tin to prevent the reabsorption of metallic matter from the condensing-surface,other than mehowever, any 0t tallic surfaces being more or less impractica-.

ble. As it is well known that water-v ap ors have the highest possible absorbing; qualities, they or the resulting recondensed water will gradually dissolve and absorb all except a few of the precious metals and-pure tin, and for this reason I prefer to em loy'a condensing coil or pipe of'this materia though other material may be adopted,if desired. This coil or pipe D may have its lower end (1 connected to a suitable saturating-receiver D,:i.n which is sterilized air or any other suitable gas to be absorbed by the distilled water, thereby preventing said water from absorbing impure surrounding air, though, if preferred, the distilling apparatus 'may be placed in a room supplied with sterilized air or any other suitable gas instead of mploying a separate saturating-receiv er. The receiver D preferably comprises a closed casing d having a dis-- tributer d for dividing the condensed water as it enters said receiver, so as to cause it tomore thoroughly mix with the air or gas which may be introduced into said receiver through the pipe (1 the latter is eing connected to any suitable source of supply. Within the casing may be arranged a bent pipe (1 of sufficient length to retain the water at a fixed height, but which will permit the liquid to flow therefrcm when the liquid rises above the bend in said ipe.

fier suitable means may be employed for conveying the Water from the receiver or any number of saturating-receivers may be employed to cause the liquid to pass successively through each of the same.

The water-pipe e is provided with a suitable valve or cock 0 and has one of its ends connected to the source of supply, while'its other end is connected to the coil E, through which the Water may pass. Extending upwardly irom the coil'E is a pipe e, having a branch e communicatin at coupling e" with a pipe 0, through whic the water flows into the boiling-pan after it h'a'sbeen heated by pass' throu h'said coil E. Communieating wit the pipe e is an overflow-pipe 2 having an outlet somewhat higher than the connection e with the boiling-pan, so that any surplus water may be conveyed by the pipe e tothe pipe e and out of the waste-pipe Instead of this'pipe,

e, which pipe may have one of its ends connected to the retort O and ma be provided with a cock -.e to permit sai retort to be cleansed. This construction maintains the water in the boiling-pan at a pro er height at all times. At f is a pipe provide with a cock f and commun icating at one end with the boiling-pan A and at its lower end with the :retort O for supplying water thereto, the said supply of water. to the retort controlling the supply of'water to the boiling-pan by preventing more water from entering said b oilingpan 'than'can-be vaporized in the retort 0. That the flow through the pipe a may not vary in volume, the valve j" may be adjusted to vary the flow through the pipe fto the still without causin any difference in the waterlevel in the boi ing-pan, which is maintained by reason of. the arrangement of the overflowpipe 0 and the su ply to the boiling-pan conforms with the ow to the still, while the overflow varies with the adjustment of the valve f. a

G is a steam-pipe connected with a sorrce of supply and provided with a suitable valve 9 for reg. lating said s" pply and is connected to one end of the steam-coils c, located in the retort C, the 'oth er end of the coils being connected to one end of the pipe 9. The upper end of this pip e g is connected w ith one end tf' with a valve or cook h for cleaning the boi.l-

ing-pan, and at k is a connection provided vilh a valz-geh for cleaning the w ater-coil- E.

7 Tie operation of the apparat'is this constructed is as follow s: The cocks e 7?, and h being c-lc sed, the cold in ater is t; rned on by opening tl; e cock e allov ing thereby the circulation of -the water through the coil E, pipes c e c, to the boilingan A,the pipe :2 servingto convey any s11 rp 1s v ater throrgh the pipe 6 to the waste-pipe e. The valve ,9 is now opened and steam permitted to pass vthrough the'coils c of the retort andcoils b of the boilingan until the thermometer show s a sufficient y high temperat'. re. Then the cock f is opened and set, which permits the prrified boilingwater to be supplied to the retort C. The vaporized w ater will now rise in the dome c and pass into the pipe D where it is condensed by the cooling-v; ater in the coil E to'ap'proximately thesame temperahire as said cooling-water, the said condensed 'water flowing out of the pipe D at d to and thro'u gh the saturatingreceiver D, from which it may be conveyed in any convenient manner. The cooling-water in the coil E in-the meantime absorbs the heat of the evaporated steam, becoming itself heated before reaching the boiling-pan, thereby materially reducing the fuel expenditure. The best results may be obtained by reg lating the feed to the retort C b the cock f, so that the water will just about cover the steam-coils, which may be seen through the bulls-eye 0 To shut down, the steam should first be turned off, then the cold water, and after the thermometer 6 falls below one hundred and eighty (180) degrees Fahrenheit then the cock f otherwise the water in the retort G'might vaporize sufhciefiitly to fall below the level of the upper co In distilling all water will deposit more or less scale, according to its condition; so frequent purification and cleansing of the still is most advisablein fact, necessary for its proper continuous operation-and should be done as often as the precipitation of. the solid matter may require. This may be accom lished in any preferred manner such, fbr instance, as putting a suitable solvent in the boiling-pan and pipes, preferably through the connection a, after shutting oil the cocks c and f, at the same time kee )ing steam supplied to the coils. The cock 7? is then opened to let some of the solution run the reverse way through the coil E for about one-quarter of a minute, after which the cook it should be closed and the cock f opened to let as much of the solution run into the retort as the feed-pipe f will emptytherein, boiling it thoroughly and allowing it to stand over night, when it may be drawn out. During this cleansing process and when the cooling-water is shut ofi steam will exhaust at the lower end (1 of the condensing-coil D, thereby sterilizing said pipe.

Where poor or very hard water is used, the

cooling-water after passing through the coil E may be runfirst into an additional evapcrating or boiling pan with a radiating coil in its bottom, through which exhaust-steam may be caused to passto raise the water to the temperature of said exhaust-steam. From this pan the preheated water may be fed into the boiling-pan A and from there into the retort C in the manner heretofore explained. The water condensed inthe livesteam coil may be run to a hot-Water tank placed about on a level with the retort C and,

together with the surplus hot water running over from the boiling-p an, may be u sed to feed a steam-boiler. It will be seen that by the utilization of the heat in the manner explained economy bothin the use of live steam and in the 11 se of fuel is thereby secured.

It is obvious that the number of coils for heating and vaporizin 'the water, or the number of coils for con ensing the vaporized water, or the number of boiling-pans or retorts, or their general arrangement or construction may be varied and that other means than steam for heating and vaporizing the water may be employed, also that the saturating-receiver or any other means of supplying gas or sterilized air to the distilled water may be dispensed with, without de-. parting from the spirit of my invention.

In this application I make no claim to the method herein described per 80, since the same forms the subject-matter of my aforesaid divisional application, Serial No. 29,398, filed September 8, 1900.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a distilling apparatus, the combination with an evaporator and means for vaporizing the water therein, of acondenser comprising water-supply and distillate conduits associated together, an open boiling-pan connected with said water-sup ly, means for heating said pan to drive on the impurities contained in the water, a pipe connection between the boiling-pan and the evaporator for conducting the remaining heated and purified Water to the latter and a pipe connecting said evaporator to the distillate-conduit of the condenser, substantially as described.

4 2. In a distilling apparatus, the combination with an evaporator and means for vaporizing the water therein, of a condenser comprising Water-supply -and distillate conduits associated together, an open boiling-pan connected with said water-supply conduit beyond the oint of association with the dis tillate-con uit, means for heatins said pan to drive oil the impurities contained 1n the water, a pipe connection between the boilingpan and the evaporator for conducting the re-. maining heated and purified water to the latter, and a pipe connecting said evaporator to the distillate-conduit of the condenser, substantially as described.

3. In a distilling apparatus, the combination with a still, of a boiling-pan provided with aninlet for the water, and an overflow to determine the water-level and maintain the same, said pan having means for boiling the water to purify the same and an opening for the escape of the organic and other gases arising from the boiled .water, and a connection for conducting the remaining purified water to said still provided with a valve regulatin the supply of water to the still, the supp y of water to the boilin -pan being regulated by the amount su plied to said still, substantially as describe 4. In a distilling apparatus, the combina tion with a still comprising a retort having steam-coils arranged therein for vaporizing water and a condensing pipe or coil communicating'with said retort, of a boiling-pan provided with an inlet for the water, a steam coil or coils for heating said. water, and

surrounding the condensing-pipe, a connecthe boiling-pan and provided with an overan opening for the escape of gases, a pipe con necting said pan to the retort, a pipe or coil tion for supplying Water to said coil, a pipe leading from the coil surrounding the condensing-pipe, and connected to the inlet of the boiling-pan, together with a pipe connecting the steam-coils of, the retort with the coil or coils of said boiling-pan, substantially as described.

5. In a distilling apparatus, the combination of a v aporizing chamber or retort, a boiling-p an commnicating therewith to supply the same w ith boiled w ater and open for the escape of vapor, a water-supply pipe having a branch connntnicating with the pan and having an elevated overflow extension beyc-nd such branch to determine the waterle'vel in the pan and maintain it above the water-inlet thereof, and a condenser commy nicating with the v'aporizingchamber and associated with the w ater-supply pipe.

6. In a distilling apparatus, the combination with a retort and means for vaporizing the water contained therein, of a boiling-pan provided with an inlet for the water, means for boiling the w ater contained therein, and with an opening for the escape of the gases," wl reby tie organic and ct: er gases contained in tl e w ater or created bythe destruction of solid matter contained therein are dri' en off with the vapor into the op en air, a pipe connecting said pan to the retort for conveying the remaining urified 'w ater thereto, a condenser provide w ith ,a connection with the retort, a pipe leading from the. condenser and supplying heated water to flow, it hereby the supply of water to the an may be controlled by the amount supp ied to the retort, substantially as described.

7. In a distilling apparatus, the combination with a retort and means for vaporizing the w ater contained therein, of a boiling-pan provided with an inlet for the w ater, means for heating the w ater contained in said pan, and an opening for the escape into the open air of the organic or other gases contained in the w ater or created by the destruction of solid matter contained therein, a pipe connecting pan to the retort for conveying the remain ng pur fied water to said retort, a pipe or 0011 surrounding the retort and communicating with the same to receive vapor I therefrom, a w ater-conveying pipe surrounding the condensing-pi e for condensing the distillate, together with a pipe leading from the water-conveying pipe and connected to. the inlet of the boiling-pan, whereby the water. may be heated by the distillate before being Ipurified, substantially as described.

8. 11 tion with a still comprising a retort having steam-coils arranged tliereinfor vaporizing water, and a condensing pipe or coil communicating with said retort, of a boiling-p an provided with an inlet for the w ater, a steam coil or coils for boiling the water connected with the retort steam-coils, and an opening in the upper portion of the pan for the escape into the open air of the organic and other gases contained in the water or created by the destruction of solid matter contained therein, a'pipe connecting said pan to the I retort for conveying. the remaining purified water to said retort, and apipe or coil surrounding the condensing-pipe and provided with a communicationwith the boiling-pan, whereby the water to be distilled may be heated by the distillate before reaching said boiling-pan, slibstantially asv described.

9. In a distilling apparatus, the combination of a vaporizing-retort, a vapor-pipe leading out of the same and coiled about it, oneor more steam coils within the retort, a

a distilling apparatus, the combinaboiling-pan above the retort and open for the 1 escape of vapors, a steam-coil in saidpan and connected in series with the steam-coil in the retort, a pipe connecting the boiling-pan with the retort for supplying the latter with boiled liq; id, a liquid-coil inclosing the vaporcoil around the retort, a pipe connecting said liquid-coil w ith the boiling-pan for supplying the latter with heated liqu'id-, a waste or overflow pipe connected with said hot-liquid pipe, and connections between said wastepipe and the steam and liquid coils and the retort and boiling-pan, for the purpose-described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB F. WITTEMANN. 

